Riders’ LaBatte and Best likely out for the year, Roosevelt questionable

For the second day in a row, Naaman Roosevelt did not practice with the Roughriders.

On Wednesday, head coach Chris Jones said Roosevelt was being assessed for a lower leg injury. Roosevelt went down hard on his knee during the Banjo Bowl last week.

Those hoping for an update on his status Thursday were out of luck.

“We haven’t got a final diagnosis but he’s got a lower leg injury and we’ll just have to see where we’re at,” Jones said when asked about his status.

If Roosevelt can’t play Sunday, the Riders will be hard pressed to fill his shoes. Roosevelt has five games with over 100 yards, and currently sits third in the CFL for passing yards at 1,095.

But Armanti Edwards is ready to try. Edwards has been with the team since training camp – and was a quarterback before making the transition to wide receiver.

“It’s a hard transition playing one position, going to another,” Edwards said. (Experience at quarterback) helps read the defence, but at the same time you still got to be able to run the routes correctly, block and catch the ball.”

Even so, he says he doesn’t feel too much pressure to fill Roosevelt’s shoes. He just wants to help the team win.

“I know my capabilities, I feel I’m healthy enough to play, the coaches feel I’m healthy enough to play. I just got to know my assignment and play for the other 11 guys on the field,” Edwards said.

OFFENSIVE LINE REMAINS WITHOUT KEY CANADIANS

Jones also provided updates on the injuries to Brendon LaBatte and Chris Best. Best hasn’t been seen practicing with the team since training camp, whereas LaBatte has been missing since taking a shot to the head during the July 22 game against Ottawa.

“It looks as if we’re not going to get either one of them back for the rest of the year,” Jones said, adding it isn’t something you can plan for.

“You figure going in that you got great depth at a position and you plan accordingly and unfortunately we didn’t just lose one, we lost two.”